Today marks the culmination of the first arc of Jujutsu Kaisen’s (JJK) season 2, “Hidden Inventory / Premature Death.”
The five episode journey into Satoru Gojo’s past is the first animated release for the series since 2021’s Jujutsu Kaisen o film. In a similar fashion as the film, JJK’s latest arc predates the events of the first season.
JJK has a knack for this sort of thing, going backwards to go forwards. The story of JJK still belongs to its famed protagonist, Yuji Itadori, but has the series’ timeline become too complex? Is it time for fans of the anime to go the way of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) or Star Wars?
With a story that jumps back and forth in time as frequently as JJK’s does, a chronological approach may not be such a bad idea.
What is JJK’s Chronological Order?
Star Wars possesses quite possibly the simplest chronological order there is: the movies have numbers. Despite a wide variety of release dates, ranging from 1977 to 2019, one can always rely on the episode numbers.
On the other hand, the MCU is far more complicated. The movies and shows that take place within that universe can seemingly occur at any given time. This is so readily apparent that Disney+ offers a complete chronological timeline on their platform.
JJK’s chronological order seems comparable to the MCU’s than Star Wars‘. As of this moment, JJK’s order is as follows:
- Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 – Episodes 1-5: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death.
- Jujutsu Kaisen 0
- Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1
From Start to Finish
The purpose of a chronological viewing order is to help viewers encapsulate the whole story. It is almost the truest method of perceiving the events in the same manner as the fictional world does.
If JJK is to adopt this approach, does the story truly benefit from it?
In truth, the answer is wholly unclear. An underwhelming sentiment, but nonetheless the truth. JJK is an ongoing story that is far from completion (at least in animation form). The only evidence present for analyzation lies within the less than comprehensive timeline we currently have.
Season 2: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death
As the current oldest point in the JJK timeline, Gojo’s past is the launching pad into this universe.
Except, it isn’t.
In true prequal form, the beginning of season 2 provides little information on the basic tenets of the world. Information on the complicated matter of cursed energy is preestablished dating back to the airing of season 1. A common trapping of any chronological order, with pertinent information not being as easily consumable when taken out of release order.
Even still, many of the less complex worldbuilding blocks are competently introduced within this arc. The majority of adult characters important to JJK 0 and season 1 are present as their younger versions. Tokyo Jujutsu High, the main set piece for the entire series, is also present.
The most pressing development though, definitely relates to the characterization of Suguru Geto. Geto is a member of the same class of Gojo, and ultimately one of the main villains of the series. It is within these episodes that Geto transforms into the source of evil viewers know him as.
This knowledge provides the audience with a deeper sense of the world he desires. His actions in JJK 0 gain a feeling of ultimate payoff, and his reemergence as Kenjaku in season 1 becomes far more exciting. He is no longer a mysterious unknown ne’er-do-well, but a dastardly complex villain that has come to exact his revenge.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
As if JJK didn’t feature enough individual protagonists as it is, JJK 0 throws its own into the mix. Yuta Okkotsu, like most everyone else in this world, is a student at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Yuta is a rather well-developed character in his own right, but for the sake of this chronological study he is currently a mere vessel. Given due time, he will make his appearance within the anime series proper, but until that time his glimpse into this world still provides valuable information.
When viewing this animated film in conjunction with the events of season 2, the weight of Gojo’s decision intensifies. JJK 0 culminates with Gojo finding the strength to do what he previously could not. In doing so, he kills his best friend, Geto. The movie provides more than enough narrative substance to this interaction on its own, but season 2 means to amplify it.
On top of that, it introduces many of season 1’s supporting characters. The second year students of season 1 are present as Yuta’s comrades. With much of season 1 focusing on the first year students of Tokyo Jujutsu High, the second years are given some time at the forefront. An additional bit of fanfare is present within their season 1 appearances as a result.
Season 1
If it accomplishes anything, viewing JJK in chronological order will make the absence of Yuji Itadori less jarring. The show’s main protagonist and his classmates, Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki, don’t make full-fledged appearances until season 1.
The backstory present within Gojo’s past and JJK 0 doesn’t truly change Yuji or Nobara’s arcs all that much, but Megumi finds himself as a main beneficiary of a chronological viewing. Now that Gojo has taken up the responsibility of mentoring the three young characters, he is in direct contact with Megumi each and every day.
Gojo’s past provides viewers with a first look of Megumi as a child. A year after the altercation between Gojo and Megumi’s Father, Toji Fushiguro, Megumi enters the story. He is visited by Gojo and informed of his role in this world.
It provides a further sense of why Megumi is the way that he is throughout season 1 of JJK. He is still driven by this one interaction after all these years, attempting to unlock the power he knows is inside of him.
Is it Worth it?
Time will only tell if a chronological viewing of JJK becomes a prevalent option of viewing the series, but the option to do so cannot be ignored. A large portion of the anime’s current content is a prequel to season 1. Context is key when consuming any form of media, and that is exactly what Gojo’s past and JJK 0 bring to the table.
The stories of Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, and Megumi Fushiguro are some of the most important in all of JJK. A preference of viewing those integral moments in timeline order is sure to develop amongst fans, just as it has for so many other franchises.
You can stream all of Jujutsu Kaisen on Crunchyroll.
